THE RETURN OF T.O.D.

IT WASN'T A BLISTERING START, but it wasn't nothin' to be in 4th position at the top of the road climb and into the chicane before...

... opening it up on the dirt.

The ensuing really fast gravel downhill,
seemed to go on forever.

Other than clinching my glasses with my teeth, they were fogging from the fog, everything was going surprisingly well.

Which is the problem with tapering for a race.

We, well, at least me, feel great in those opening miles...

... it's easy to blow up early on.

Looking at my power readings and feeling my thumping heart...

... I knew I couldn't keep it up.

It was time to settle into The Old Diesel mode,
I've missed this guy.

I unhitched from the leaders,
about 8 of them floated away.

Now, it was time to ride on my limit vs someone else's.

Lots of alliances are formed in these situations.

Mark caught and passed me,
I did all I could to speed up,
we worked together.

After lap one, I was back on my own.

I knew Mr. Brownjersey was up there somewhere.

Suddenly, all I'm seeing is brown jerseys ahead of me.

I close in,
check the elbows for wrinkles,
and keep riding and chasing back.

Finally, I catch him.

C'mon ol' timer!

He's got nothing.

Dang.

Woulda been a good time for an ally.

A few miles later I catch the giant, in the white jersey.

I can't believe it.

We work together until I dork it going on to a singletrack.

I spend the next 15 minutes chasing.

And, lo and behold, he's linked up with Dave.

We're not exactly drilling it,
more like deathmarching it.

Up ahead is a super steep gravel road with big rain ruts.

I know if there is a wobble, and I have to uncleat, it's highly likely my tingy legs will fully cramp...

... and I'll be done.

So, I make an effort to lead into that short bit of nasty.

Slowly, and I mean slowly, a little, tiny gap opens...

... and stays there until the finish.

I wind up second, to the great Tinker Juarez...

• the high school tennis player
• sandwiched between two Olympians

... and just ahead of the great Dave Littieri.

What a day!

===

There is something to be said for persistence.

Well, a lot.

Somedays it works,
others, not so much.

I have often felt why am I persisting at X when Y looks so much better?

The truth, we're not seeing all the shit that lies below yonder pasture...

... better to deal with the shit we know and grow our own green grass.